Sweetwater gets a lot of mention, but many of their standard rotation is a bit meh. 420 is good, Festive Ale and Happy Endings are really good and many of the Dank Tank series are very good. The Danktoberfest release was exceptional IMO.

ETA-All the Sammy Octoberfest fan boys should try that Danktoberfest and they will understand what many have said about way too many really good Octoberfest beers on the market to settle for the Sammy.

re: Average breweries that produce an exceptional beer (Posted on 11/19/12 at 8:47 pm to LSUbase13)

I am not a huge beer drinker, but I do enjoy the Abita Springs Stawberry beer when the season comes around. They only use fresh strawberries in the beer, so it is a seasonal beer. Covington Brewery also has a strawberry flavor, but they do not use fresh strawberries.

re: Average breweries that produce an exceptional beer (Posted on 11/19/12 at 8:51 pm to delta3504)

quote:I am not a huge beer drinker, but I do enjoy the Abita Springs Stawberry beer when the season comes around. They only use fresh strawberries in the beer, so it is a seasonal beer. Covington Brewery also has a strawberry flavor, but they do not use fresh strawberries.

I don't believe it's like that any more. Pretty sure Abita uses the extract not a days.

re: Average breweries that produce an exceptional beer (Posted on 11/19/12 at 9:32 pm to Rouge)

quote:Shiner Cheer

Shiner is my vote. Cheer is their best product IMO. But their Bock is of course good and what they are known. Black is good. Blonde is good. the only thing Shiner makes that disappoints me is their Heffeweissen. I love the style but theirs sucks.

Someone mentioned Lagunitas and Sierra Nevada? What is "average" and what do you consider an exceptional brewery? I mean damn! Unless made in Belgium it does not make cut?